A Federal High Court in Abuja has issued an order to temporarily freeze four bank accounts at Jaiz Bank connected to Mele Kyari, the former head of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL).
The order was granted by Justice Emeka Nwite in response to an application from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). The anti-graft agency is investigating allegations of fraud, conspiracy, abuse of office, and money laundering.
The court approved the EFCC's request to secure the funds while its investigation is ongoing. The case has been adjourned until September 23 for an update on the probe's progress.
According to the EFCC, the investigation was initiated following a petition from a civil society group. The commission's initial findings indicate that two of the frozen accounts are in Kyari's name, while two others are held by an NGO called the Guwori Community Development Foundation Flood Relief.
The EFCC alleges that all four accounts, containing a total of over N661 million, are effectively controlled by Kyari. The funds are suspected to be the proceeds of illegal activities.
The agency claims the accounts received questionable deposits from the NNPCL and associated oil firms. These transactions were reportedly presented as payments for a book launch and NGO projects.
The court's freeze order is intended to prevent the movement of the funds, which the EFCC deems essential for a thorough investigation and to serve the interests of justice.
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